Author: oduduwanews

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday to claims that the leadership of the National Assembly altered the report on the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2020, still awaiting consideration by the Legislature.

The speaker dismissed the thought, saying that it existed only in the “realm of speculation.”

Gbajabiamila clarified that nothing had happened to the authentic report on the bill, adding that the House would pass it in the next few days.

Some media reports had lately conveyed the impression that the leadership of the National Assembly had altered the report, especially the provision on electronic voting, where it allegedly reversed the committee recommendation that election results should be transmitted electronically.

However, addressing a point of privilege raised on the floor on Tuesday on the allegation, the speaker said it was mere speculation and urged Nigerians to discountenance it.

Gbajabiamila expressed surprise that anyone would accuse the leadership of altering the report of a bill still in the custody of the Committee on Electoral Matters.

He stated, “I really don’t want to speak on a report that has yet to be presented to the floor….Ordinarily, I will not comment on a matter that is not before us yet.

“I don’t believe there is any alteration to the committee’s report.

“Only the authentic report of the committee will be submitted for consideration. So, all that is being said remains in the realm of speculation.

“I have asked the chairman of the committee and she told me that there has been nothing like that (alteration).”

Recall that both the Senate and the House had announced last week that the bill would be passed before July 14.

The former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was accused of diverting over N5.2billion.

Professor Adedibu Ojerinde has been ordered to be remanded in prison custody.

The order was given by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

This comes after the former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was accused of diverting over N5.2billion.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling on Tuesday, ordered that Ojerinde be kept in a correctional facility pending the hearing of his bail application, scheduled for July

Justice Egwuatu gave the ruling after Ojerinde, dressed in white native attire, was arraigned on an 18-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/97/2021, in which he was accused, among others, of complicity in the diversion of public funds estimated at over N5.2billion.

The prosecuting agency – the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) – said Ojerinde committed the alleged offences, contained in the charge, from 2003 when he served as the Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) till 2021.

Ojerinde pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

His lawyer, Peter Olorunnishola (SAN), subsequently informed the court about a bail application he filed and served on the prosecution.

Olorunnishola however sought time to react to the counter-affidavit filed by lawyer to the prosecution, Ebenezer Shogunle, which the defence lawyer said was served on him late.

Shogunle, who did not object to Olorunnishola’s request for time, opposed the defence lawyer’s application that his client be allowed to remain on the administrative bail, earlier granted him by the ICPC, pending the hearing of his bail application.

Details shortly…

The Lagos House of Assembly on Monday passed an amended version of the Criminal Justice Law of the state barring the police from henceforth parading suspects before the media.

The bill was passed at a sitting presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa.

Section 9(A) of the newly passed bill states: “As from the commencement of this law, the police shall refrain from parading any suspect before the media.”

The bill further stipulates conditions under which a policeman can arrest without warrant one of which is that a person must be reasonably suspected to unlawfully be in possession of firearms or other such dangerous instruments.

A subsection of the bill also barred the police or any other agency from arresting a person “in lieu of any other person in a criminal matter.”

The bill adds that a person who is arrested “shall be given reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, bail or making arrangements for defence or release.

The bill stipulates that a suspect should be “accorded humane treatment, with the right to dignity of person; not be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; be brought before the court as prescribed by this law or any other written law; or be released conditionally or unconditionally.”

After a voice vote, the Deputy Speaker directed the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit the bill to the governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for assent.

The Southern governors have again asked Federal Government to speed up process that will enable the creation of state police to combat rising insecurity in the country.

This was contained in a communique released and signed today by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, Governor, Ondo State and Chairman, Southern Governors’ Forum after the meeting that was held in Lagos as read in part.

“Communique Issued at the Conclusion of the Meeting of the Governors of Southern Nigeria at the Lagos State Government House Ikeja Lagos on Monday, 5th July, 2021

“The Southern Governors Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, 5th July, 2021 reviewed the situation in the Country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

“Rising from the meeting, the Forum agreed on the following:

1. Re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.
2. The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.
3. Security
   a. The Forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty;
   b. Re-emphasised the need for State Police;
   c. Resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed;
   d. the forum frowns at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the Law and fundamental human rights;
   e. Set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member States; and
   f. Resolved that Funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the States and Federal Government to combat security challenges.
4. Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Law:
   i. The Forum commends the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB;
   ii. the Forum rejects the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives;
   iii. the forum also rejects the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins;
   iv. However, the forum rejects the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle.
5. In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the Electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum reject the removal of the Electronic transmission of the election result from the electoral act; and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
6. The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciated the Governor of Lagos State for the wonderful hosting of this meeting while commending him for his good work in the State”.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin says the Assembly has nothing to hide vis-a-vis the petition forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC by a former Prosecutor with the Special Presidential Panel on Recovery of Public Property, Tosin Ojaomo over the N1bn vehicle contract awarded by the House.

The Speaker while reacting to the invitation extended to some management Staff of the Assembly by the EFCC last week over the contract said the Anti-graft Agency was only doing its job.

Hon Ogundoyin said it was not out of place for the officials of the EFCC to question the leadership of the House in this regard.

” It was true that the EFCC invited the Clerk but her Deputy stood in for her , the Director of Administration and Supplies and the Director of Finance and Accounts last Week Thursday and they responded accordingly. To me, this is in continuation of their investigation on the petition. We are fully cooperating with the Anti-graft Agency and we will never hinder, disturb nor undermine the work of the commission. The 9th Oyo Assembly passed the Anti-graft Agency Bill and this led to the Agency being domiciled in the State.

” I am ready to visit the EFCC if invited. As the Speaker, I will surely answer any question relating to the Contract. We followed due process in the purchase of the Vehicles in line with the laid down procedures. We have since taken the petition in good faith. The petition is a strength to democracy. It is not strange to us as democrats who take transparency and accountability as our watchwords. We were transparent and we will continue to be” The Speaker said

According to him, quotations were received from three companies for the supply of the vehicles and the most satisfying amongst them was awarded the contract.

He stressed that the House will remain focused, undaunted and undistracted despite the smear campaign embarked upon by some paid elements within and outside the House of Assembly.

” Let me say that among the Houses of Assembly in Nigeria, Oyo State House of Assembly spent the lowest amount on purchasing cars for its members despite our large number. The vehicles supplied were of good quality and they are being enjoyed by our Lawmakers. This whole thing is giving me more drive and will. We will not relent until our people enjoy good government. At the House, we will make more laws that will have more direct impact on the people of the State ” He assured.

The meeting is a follow-up on the earlier meeting in Asaba hosted by the Delta state Governor where the governors agreed on far-reaching conclusions on open grazing, restructuring Nigeria, and calls for state police.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has started receiving the governors at Alausa, Ikeja, the venue of their meeting.

Some of those at the meeting include Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; and Edo State deputy governor Philip Shaibu.

Others include Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun; Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Governor Seyi Makinde has announced the appointment of Honourable Segun Ogunwuyi as his new Chief of Staff.

This is coming few days after dislodging the former Oyo Central Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2019 general election, Chief Bisi Ilaka from the seat as Chief of Staff together with some commissioners.

In a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, confirmed Ogunwuyi’s appointment.

His appointment takes immediate effect. Hon. Ogunwuyi was, in 2019, named Executive Assistant to the Governor on Investment.

The He was later appointed Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public, Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPPPA), following the passage of the law setting up the agency.

As the DG of OYSIPPPA, Ogunwuyi midwifed series of Investment initiatives including the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA), which has helped the state in the execution of complex infrastructure projects.
Ogunwuyi, served as a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015.

He was, in 2015, elected as the member representing Ogbomoso North/South and Oriire Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

He holds a B.Sc. degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He is a certified Accountant and Financial

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has asked the Federal Government to apologise to Sunday Igboho after officials of the Department of State Services invaded his home and killed two of his associates.

The DSS invaded Igboho’s house in Ibadan, Oyo State, early on Thursday based on intelligence it said it had received that he was stockpiling arms to cause chaos within the region.

Igboho, who has been declared wanted by the DSS, had recently been calling for a ‘Yoruba Nation’ over what he has described as a ‘Fulani invasion’ of the South-West.

In an interview with BBC Pidgin published on Monday, Soyinka said the government’s actions and rationale for invading Igboho’s home “stinks.”

“My advise to the government is that they should stop pursuing Igboho as a criminal, because you have begun by acting in a criminal fashion against him,” he said.

“If and when Igboho comes to trial, I guarantee you the government will be very embarrassed.

“I think they should tell Igboho ‘we made a mistake’, ‘we should not have acted in this way’, ‘you are no longer wanted’, ‘go back to your home, in fact escort him to his home’ and let him resume his normal life.”

According to Soyinka, Igboho’s fight for freedom was preceded by criminal acts of enemies of Nigeria who “appear to be supported by the force of the State.”

While Soyinka noted he doesn’t ‘like the sound of a Yoruba Nation’ anymore than he likes the sound of a Tiv or Igbo nation, he said the country must be restructured through the decentralisation of power.

According to the erudite professor, Nigeria’s current structure was imposed upon the people by the military.

Lagos State Governor, Babjide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the death of a teenage girl allegedly killed by a stray bullet during the Yoruba nation rally in Ojota area of the state.

The girl simply identified as Jumoke Monsurat Oyeleke was allegedly killed by a stray bullet when policemen deployed to Ikorodu Road and other strategic areas in the state fired gunshots to disperse the crowd that gathered at Gani Fawehinmi’s Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos, venue of the rally.

Until her death, the girl was a sales apprentice at an ice cream shop along the Ikorodu Road in Lagos.

The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, said a coroner’s inquest has immediately been requested in line with Section 14 and 15 of the Coroners’ Systems Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015, to determine the cause and circumstances of the girl’s death.

The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to the death of a 14-year-old girl in Ojota during the Oodua Republic Mega Rally on Saturday, 3rd of July, 2021.

“We commiserate with the family of the deceased. The Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered a thorough investigation of the death.

Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) over the weekend arrested 71 miscreants in a dawn raid of black spots in Oshodi, just as it impounded 227 motor cycles from riders plying prohibited routes.

The raid was in line with the directives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu to Taskforce to rid Oshodi of traffic robbers and miscreants who harass and dispossess motorists and commuters of their belongings.

The agency’s team which was led by its Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye in the dawn raided and combed Oshodi Oke, Oshodi Underbridge, Toyota, Fatai Atere, among others where many ex – convicts, drug addicts and peddlers were arrested around 5:00 a,m to 6;00 a.m.

CSP Jejeloye had on reaching the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi personally screened the suspects one after the other before releasing five of them.

Some of the motorists and passers-by, who witnessed the arrest of some of the miscreants commended the agency for evacuating some of the miscreants adding that they had made Oshodi inaccessible at dawn and at night.

Some of the suspects indicted for their notoriety and criminal conduct in the areas included: Solomon Ebenezer (29), Toyin Shoboyejo (29), Chidebere Peter (29) and Demola Olowe (a.k.a FGN) all of whom are ex – convicts.

In a related development, Lagos State Taskforce over the weekend impounded 227 motor cycles for plying restricted routes.

The bikes were impounded in Ikeja Along, Ogba, Alaguntan, Abule Egba, Command, Gate and Ayobo.

The Chairman vowed that the agency would intensify efforts to complement the Command in ridding the State of criminals while also continuing with the clampdown on motor bikes plying prohibited routes in the State.